depone

August 13, 2013

verb

\dih-POHN\

Definition

: to assert under oath : testify

Examples

"A policeman had deponed at the preliminary inquiry that Barnes had willingly given permission for the samples to be taken."  From an article by Barbara Gayle in The Weekly Gleaner (Jamaica, New York), October 1117, 2012
"At paragraph 12 of this affidavit, it is deponed that the Biometric Voter Registration technology was not meant to replace the legally required manual system of voter registration, but was meant to provide an additional layer of efficiency and integrity in the electoral processes."  From a report on a presidential petition in the Daily Nation (Kenya), April 16, 2013

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Did You Know?

"I, Maureen Watt, depone aat I wull be leal and bear ae full alleadgance tae Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth," swore the newly-elected Member of the Scottish Parliament in the dialect of the North-East of Scotland. (Translation: "I swear that I will be loyal and bear full allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.") "Depone," a word used in Scots law for "testify" since the 15th century, is perfectly at home in the oath. The word originated from Latin "deponere," meaning "to put down." The related English verb "depose," referring to testimony, entered the language through the same root the following century. Though used less frequently in American English than "depose," "depone" is no stranger to the American court system.

Test Your Memory: What is the meaning of "nary," our Word of the Day from July 13? The answer is